The 13th biennial conference of the South Pacific Environmental Radioactivity Association (SPERA) provides a platform for discussion and debate among scientists on the occurrence, behaviour, impact and measurement of radioactive species present in the environment through natural processes, or resulting from human activities. This international conference facilitates knowledge sharing on environmental radioactivity and related topics of local and global significance. Researchers, students and enthusiasts are encouraged to attend the conference and submit an abstract for oral or poster presentation. The conference will be held in Darwin 1-4 September 2014. For more information visit: http://www.spera.org.au/spera_conference_items.php

It is once again that time of year where for many families Christmas celebrations are going on, and soon we will start the challenging New Year 2014. IRPA and its members have had an interesting and active year behind us, where we all started in a new era of collaborative work between radiation protection practitioners worldwide. I can assure you that on many occasions the importance of our work was recognized.